New Family

"Daddy, who are they?" Hestia asked, voice full of curiosity. Of course, she knew who these three people are but for his father to introduce these new additions to their small family she had to make an opening for him.

Duke Hugh's body went taut, he looked down to his daughter nervously, bright curious eyes met his wary ones. Will she throw another tantrum if she knew who these people are?

Duke Hugh sigh miserably, he was afraid of his daughter's reaction, he was sure that today would not be an easy day for any one of them but the Duke still hoped for another miracle to happen.

"This is Imogen and her two children Liam and Leon. They will stay here with us from now on." Duke Hugh said still evading the truth about the presence of these three people in their house.

Hestia looked displeased, her full lips pouted. "You are hiding something from me, Daddy."

Duke Hugh cleared his throat, "I am not." and evaded his daughter's keen eyes. He decided to make Hestia feel at ease with the three first before telling her the whole truth. Transition is good.

Hestia's brows furrowed but then her face smoothened out. She smiled sweetly to his father, "Then can I bully them like I bully the servants?"

A frightened gasp left Leon's lips. He clutched his mother's dress more tightly and hid his small body behind her. Leon can't take his eyes off the girl's face when she descended the stairs, he felt his mouth going slack and his cheeks warming up after seeing how pretty and fair the girl is. Pale milky white skin, eyes the color of Prisnia, a purple-colored delicate flower he often sees in flower stalls in the village market, her cherry-colored supple lips that look soft and lush drew his attention. Crowning her head is her soft pink hair that was so unusual for him. Its color reminding him of spun sugar treat his mother once bought him on his birthday, he could still remember its taste, fluffy and melt in your mouth sweet.

His elder brother Liam said that he once saw someone with green hair when the village chief made him come to the capital's market place to help trade their village goods, he said he only saw a glimpse of it in the swarm of people but was sure it was truly green locks of hair. He said some people exist with different kinds of hair color. It is unusual in their country but normal in nations that practice magic and sorcery.

He stared and stared. Is this how angels look like? Liam thought if angels do exist then they would surely look like this girl. She was so pretty. He really wanted to touch her hair and be her friend. But would she want him as a friend?

Then Leon was frightened when he heard what she said. She will bully us?! Did they come to this place just to be bullied again? To be tormented like they were in their village. Liam raised his head and look to his elder brother for help. "Elder Brother."

He didn't want to be bullied again.

The stones those people threw at them hurt. The kicks and punches were so painful he didn't want to experience it again. He thought their new father would protect them, he said so when he proposed to mother. But his daughter wanted to bully them, what should they do?

Seeing the helpless look in his younger brother's eyes, Liam took a step forward to hide his brother behind him. With fists clenched tightly, eyes cold and resolute trained on the young girl in front of him. If she thought he would let her lay a finger on his mother and younger brother, then she should think twice again.

"Hestia!"

Hearing her daughter's words plus the look of terror and dismay in Imogen and her children's eyes made him disappointed with his daughter's behavior. He had put too much faith that her daughter had some enlightenment and had turned a new leaf. He was sorely wrong he guessed.

"You cannot do that. They are guests in our house and it's not right to bully the servants." He scolded her. He had never done that with a company before, he would usually summon her to his library before he berates her in private. He believed that children who were scolded in front of guests will have lower self-esteem and develop a reserved attitude.

Hestia look up at him and nodded her head earnestly like she had put his words to heart. "Hm, I was just jesting. I'll never do that to them. I will also apologize to the servants I bullied and promise to never bully anyone again."

The duke stared at his daughter, did she experienced enlightenment or is this a dream? Duke Hugh is still not accustomed to this kind of obedient Hestia. He became suspicious.

"You did something bad, didn't you?" he said, his tone full of distrust.

Hestia smiled, "I haven't and will never do bad things again in the future. I will also obey Father more starting today."

"I think you did something bad, spill it now. Maybe we could still do some countermeasures."

Hestia didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I really didn't do anything, I'm telling the truth. You should also be truthful, daddy. Who are they?"

Duke Hugh looked into his daughter's eyes and saw no malice in it but pure curiosity. He sighed, he will take a gamble this time. Besides, the truth will come out sooner or later.

"They are your new mother and brothers. They will live with us starting today and my only wish is that you accept them as part of our family and will make them feel welcome, Hestia. Can you do this for me?"

Duke Hugh felt his heart racing, please grant me another miracle, was repeating inside his head on loop as her daughter's eyes blink several times like she was assimilating his statement into her mind.

Then another miracle happened.

A bright smile stretched on Hestia's face. "Really? I will have another mother and brothers?" she asked excitedly.

Duke Hugh slowly nodded as if in a daze. She's not angry? She will not make a fuss?

He still could not believe that his daughter was excited to have a mother and brothers. Maybe the world is ending and he wasn't informed?

Hestia extricated herself from the duke and turned to the silent and worried woman by her father's side. She reached forward and held the woman's clammy hands with her own.

Hestia smiled with a tinged of sadness on her face. This is the good woman she had wronged so much in her past life. The woman who sacrificed herself along with her father to save her damned soul. Hestia promised that in this life she will be a good daughter to Imogen.

"I am Hestia. I already have a mommy and she's in heaven now." A flash of dejection colored Imogen's face but Hestia continued with a gentle smile on her lips, "But I still don't have a Mama. Will you be my mama?"

Imogen's eyes snapped wide. Hugh said during their trip that his daughter is a bit difficult to handle and that they will have a hard time making her accept them as part of the family.

But this beautiful young girl in front of her is so different from Hugh's description of his willful daughter. She stared at the young girl's eyes and saw no duplicity in them, only deep-seated hope that Imogen will accept her offer to be her Mama.

Imogen's chest felt stuffy, her eyes watering a bit. She had long wanted to have a daughter she could dress and pamper and the gods must have been listening, took pity on her, and granted her wish. She had Hestia now. She promise to love and cherish this adorable girl as she does her sons.

Imogen smiled, her voice was wobbly with many emotions churning inside her heart. "Yes, I want to be your Mama."

Hestia turned to the two brothers. They were both staring at her with a stunned expression on their face. They can't believe that she easily accepted them as part of her family. They can't believe that a young girl like her even exists.

Leon and Liam were surprised when Hestia grabbed each of their hands and held them tight. They both looked down to where their hands joined with hers. Milky white, soft, and smooth skin met rough and dark ones. The disparity between the two skins is so appalling Liam and Leon had an urge to take back their hand and hide it behind their back. But the warmth and softness that came of Hestia's made them hesitate.

The way she grabbed their hand without thinking twice meant she is not looking down on them for being the way they are. Looking at the gentle smile on her face, their heart finally settled down.

"My name is Hestia." She introduces herself and softly squeezed their hands to draw an answer.

"I'm Liam." The older one said then points at his younger brother who was too shy to even respond. "and he's Leon."

Hestia smiled at the both of them, a profound look entered her eyes. "Starting today you will be my brothers and I will be your sister," I promise to take care of you and protect you with all my life.